Axis Lock Pivot Tension

T

TexasAg

Joined
Mar 18, 2007
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How snug or loose should the pivot be on an axis lock - specifically a Griptilian? If I'm holding the knife horizontally and pull back the lock, should the blade swing down to half-way closed? Should it be tighter than that? If so, how tight? I appreciate any input.
 
it boils down to preference. it sounds like your pivot is on the loose side. if you tighten it then it will become a little harder to open. but honestly it depends on what you like.
 
TexasAg said:
How snug or loose should the pivot be on an axis lock - specifically a Griptilian? If I'm holding the knife horizontally and pull back the lock, should the blade swing down to half-way closed? Should it be tighter than that? If so, how tight? I appreciate any input.
Click to expand...
Unless there's a blade play it's all good. Lots of people (including myself) take their AXIS knives apart to polish all points of contact (tang, washers, liners) to achieve that same result.
Open the knife, pull back on the AXIS, and check for any side-to-side blade play if you have any adjust the pivot screw accordingly. If there is none, you're good to go.
 
Some like it on the slightly looser side so it can be flicked open. I personally liked a little more tension because I always used the thumbstuds. As RxEnergy said, as long as there is no blade play it should be all good.
 
The axis should open with a flic of your thump on the stud or hole without side to side play. Anything looser would be to weak for what the knife can be.

You may tighten pretty stiff and let the knife break in.

I have been tighteing the pivot of my 14205 so it only opens with the thump leading the blade all the way. After a short while and a drop of Militec it opens with a flic of the thump. But it won´t fall out if held horizontally and pulling back the axis.
 
Has anyone had trouble with the pivot screw on their axis lock just getting loose?

I noticed my 710's pivot was loose with some side to side play in the blade after just getting knife. I tightening it to my preference. Interestingly, I was able to take the torc bit and with my fingers only tighten the pivot screw to were the blade is nice and snug and the action is not to stiff. Just Right!

A few days later (today) it's loose again and with unacceptable side to side blade play. So I've tightened it again and will not do any flicking to open or such and see how that goes.

Any suggestions?
 
The part of a pivot backing off with use is common. The fix is accomplished by two methods:

Pickup some BLUE Loc-tite 242 formula or similar. On most Benchmades the Torx driver for the pivot is a T-10. Remove the pivot bolt and wipe the threads with a soft cloth to remove any oil residue, then apply a drop or two to the threads, reinsert the pivot bolt and adjust the tension of the blade to your liking finding that 'sweet spot' and once adjusted there will be plenty of time to readjust it if you need to. The Loc-tite should be set within 12 hours and the blade should not move out of adjustment after that.

The other method is to pickup some Plumber's tape from your local hardware store and following the basic instructions above cut a very small strip of the material and after cleaning the pivot bolt wrap the threads with the tape and tighten the bolt down adjusting the tension to where you like it.

I have not tried the tape...use Loc-tite all the time...either method will resolve the problem.

Hope that helps.

Joe K.
 
Most any auto parts store will have it.

I like Loctite 243 (deals with oil better) and Loctite 248 (in a paste form) better.
 
Any issues backing off pivot or screws with Loc-Tite 242 or better, use a hair dryer set to LOW for a few minutes to warm the knife up and it does make things easier to unscrew.
 
While I appreciate the fact that many manufacturers use a threadlocker during assembly I wish they would use the low-strength version.
aka #222, purple.
It was specifically designed for fine-threaded diameters smaller than 1/4" (6mm) that may also need re-adjustment.
If that doesn't have blade pivot written all over it I don't know what does.

Blue (IMO) is too strong for #2-56, #4-40, #6-32 etc size screws.
 
Here's what NOT to do: don't use Loctite green. I don't remember the number, but the bond is enough to cause torx heads to strip in cases where the tool and/or screw are badly dimensioned or made of soft materials.
 
My 710 will do that when I hold the blade at that angle and pull the AXIS lock back, the blade will literally fall out halfway, its just due to it being broken in, the AXIS is supposed to be like that when broken in, if you dont want it that loose apply locktite and if you ever want to remove the locktite down the rd use BREAFREE CLP trust me on this I had Locktite applied to my 610 around the pivots and did not like how stiff it was and applyed some hot water to loosen it up then I dried it off and appiled breakfree CLP which is actually a gun cleaner solution and it now opens like it did before applying the locktite... Good Luck...
 
Axis-Lock

i read all about its great qualities and long-term use

So i have 1 griptilian and 1 mini-griptilian....

But when I read that we will have to put Loctite one day, what a big disapointement :thumbdn:
 
boolz said:
Axis-Lock

i read all about its great qualities and long-term use

So i have 1 griptilian and 1 mini-griptilian....

But when I read that we will have to put Loctite one day, what a big disapointement :thumbdn:
Click to expand...

This is not a reflection on Benchmade at all. I have lots of expensive folders that need loctite or something similar to maintain correct pivot pin tension. :thumbup:
 
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